Burns pain management in Ghana: The role of nurse–patient communication

Tetteh, L; Aziato, L; Mensah, GP; Vehviläinen-Julkunen, K; Kwegyir-Afful, E

Abstract

Background:

Nursing is an embodiment of knowledge, clinical work, and interpersonal communication. Effective nursing care has a distinct influence on the overall satisfaction and experience of the patient. Communication is said to be indispensable in the delivery of quality healthcare. Effective communication between nurses and patients has proven to yield better results with pain control and improved psychological status of patients.

Objectives:

The aim of the study is to explore nurses’ perceptions on the role of communication in the management of burns pain.

Methods:
A qualitative design with purposive sampling was carried out to recruit 11 registered nurses from a Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Center in Ghana. To identify the participants’ perception on the role of nurse–patient communication in the management of burns pain, a face to face semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide to collect data.

Results:
Thematic analysis was done with various themes emerging. Helping patients manage pain, early detection of patient’s distress, improved patient participation in their care were some of the positive effects of nurse–patient communication whiles reduced level of cooperation during caregiving, and endurance of pain by the patient were the results of poor nurse–patient communication. Language and time facto were the barriers that were identified to hinder effective communication between nurses and patients.

Conclusions:
Due to the subjective nature of pain, the current study highlights the need for increased communication for an effective assessment and management of pain among patients with burns. It is, therefore, imperative that nurses be well trained in communication with an emphasis on patient-centered communication.

Citation

Tetteh, L., Aziato, L., Mensah, G., Vehviläinen-Julkunen, K., & Kwegyir-Afful, E. (2020). Burns pain management in Ghana: The role of nurse–patient communication. Burns, 47(6), 1416-1423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2020.11.011

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 20, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 27, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Deposit Date: Dec 1, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 27, 2021
• Journal: Burns
• Print ISSN: 0305-4179
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1416-1423
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2020.11.011
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2020.11.011
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/burns/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: AM ** From Elsevier via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for AM version of this article: This article is under embargo. **Journal IDs: issn 03054179 **History: issue date 27-11-2020; accepted 20-11-2020